HF4654

Purpose

This bill updates how child care programs receive state funds under the Great Start Compensation and Support Payments Grant Program. It sets new requirements for applying for and using those funds, and strengthens reporting and oversight to ensure funds are used and tracked appropriately.

Main Provisions

• Application process for each funding period
  • Programs must complete an application developed by the commissioner for every payment period.
• Eligible staff and time allowed
  • For full-time equivalent staff who regularly care for children, the application can count up to 24 hours annually of:
  • required paid break time, and
  • professional development or training hours.
  • Paid vacation time taken by staff can be counted as qualifying hours toward reporting of eligible FTE staff.
• Data reporting
  • Programs must submit data on child enrollment and attendance to the commissioner in the form and manner specified.
• Attestation and operating status
  • Programs must attest in writing that they were open and operating and served a minimum number of children during the funding period, with exceptions for:
  • service disruptions necessary to protect safety and health (based on public health guidance from the CDC, the commissioner of health, the commissioner of children, youth and families, or a local public health agency), and
  • planned temporary closures for provider vacations and holidays during each payment period.
  • The commissioner must establish the maximum allowed duration for vacations and holidays.
• Timing for spending funds
  • Programs must spend money received under this section no later than six months after the payment is received.
• Compliance and verification
  • Programs must comply with all requirements listed in the application.
  • The commissioner must establish methods to determine that the application requirements have been met.

Changes to Existing Law

• This act amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 142D.21, subdivision 3, by adding new conditions and reporting requirements for Great Start Compensation and related grant payments, including how staff time is counted, what data must be reported, and how and when funds must be spent.

Implementation Details and Compliance

• The commissioner is responsible for:
  • developing and administering the application process,
  • specifying the form and method for enrollment and attendance data submission,
  • setting the minimum number of children that must be served (with defined health and safety exceptions),
  • establishing the maximum duration for vacations/holidays,
  • creating methods to verify that program requirements have been met.
• Programs must adhere to the application requirements and meet reporting and spending deadlines (six-month expenditure window).

Impact on Programs and Oversight

• Programs face clearer rules on counting staff time (including paid breaks, PD/training, and vacation time as qualifying hours).
• There are added reporting duties and financial timelines to ensure accountability for Great Start funds.
• Flexibility is maintained for health/safety disruptions and scheduled vacations, but with defined limits on duration.

Note

• This summary describes changes to the Great Start Compensation and Support Payments Grant Program and related reporting and compliance requirements under Minnesota law (amending Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 142D.21, subdivision 3).

Relevant Terms Great Start Compensation Support Payments Grant Program Minnesota Statutes 2024 142D.21, subdivision 3 full-time equivalent staff (FTE) paid break time professional development training hours paid vacation time enrollment data attendance data funding period payment period service disruptions public health guidance CDC commissioner of health commissioner of children, youth and families local public health agency vacations and holidays maximum duration expenditure deadline compliance verification